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. ~ . ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL - MARCH 30. 1998 6 Ms. Haake asserted that both the Mounds View City Council and the property owners were winners since the Council were seen as caring representatives for their citizens. She suggested that some of these options be explored by the City of Arden Hills and its residents. She stated that the residents are more important than keeping to a construction schedule. Ms. Haake asserted the actions ofthe Mounds View City Council is what Council representation is all about. Michael Hill, 3280 Lake Johanna Boulevard, presented a formal objection to his proposed assessments. Craig Wilson, 1677 West County Road F, commended the Council for notifYing residents earlier in the process and urged the Council to continue that process. He stated he was assessed about $32 per front foot when County Road F was reconstructed and now the cost is up to $48 per front foot in Arden Hills and $42 per front foot in Mounds View. He asked what has accounted for this high increase in construction over three years. Mr. Wilson stated he would be interested in looking at alternatives to the assessment policy and to find a way to spread the cost to all citizens on a yearly basis instead of finding a new group of residents to shock with the road improvement project and assessment. He stated he thinks all residents should cover the cost of the roads since residents use all of the roads. He stated his roadway is heavily used so he will have to pay for its improvement more often than a resident living in a more secluded neighborhood. Mr. Wilson stated he supports a smaller road width which would keep the costs down, may reduce the speed of traffic, and would also provide space for a walkway. He stated it may be the standard or City policy to have curb and gutter but he believes residents moved into Arden Hills knowing a ditch system is used to carry drainage. He stated he believes ditches work better than curb and gutter since it allows drainage to seep into the ground rather than running into the lakes and ponds. Mayor Probst explained that the City has looked at different forms of curb and gutter and the current policy could be changed but the Council believes there is a long-term maintenance advantage to have the additional pavement support provided by curb and gutter. He noted there are reports that suggest curb and gutter can deal more effectively with runoff issues and are more environmentally friendly. Mayor Probst explained that County Road F is built to a higher standard and residents were assessed for a theoretical 32 foot residential street and not assessed based on the actual costs of the project. He explained the market is controlling the increase in costs for road projects which is not under the Council's control. Mayor Probst stated the assessment and cost process is no more fun for the Council than the residents. He advised that the Council continually reviews this issue and has discussed the option of levying for City streets which would represent about a 20% property tax increase. The judgement of the Council has been that rather than putting this into the general fund and risking whether the funds will be used for street improvements, it would be assessed. He noted that when the street is assessed those funds go to road improvements and cannot be considered for another use. Roger Luehrs, 1967 Edgewatcr Avenue, asked if residents will have full access to their property and mail boxes.